Need assistance with matching sump pump to oveflow box

[JT101]

I have a 46G bowfront I just set up. I have an Aqueon ProFlex Model 3 refugium/sump, a Danner 500GPH return pump and an Eshopps PF-300 overflow box.

Immediately upon running the Danner I was horrified at the loudness of it so I went out to Aquarium Village (Ray is a great guy!) and bought a Deep Blue Triton 3 850GPH return pump.

Set it up and was amazed at how quiet it is - but now, I think I need a new overflow box!

The "head" is only 46 inches, but the Triton is now probably only pushing about 457GPH.

This is above the PF-300's rating.

MY question is: What would happen if I got, say, the PF-800? According to Fosters & Smith, that would be "bad" because they are too far mismatched, and they say I could end up with the sump flooded because the overflow is feeding the sump faster than the pump can get water out of it. But this doesn't make sense to me. The way I understand it, the return box only delivers water as long as the outside boxs' water level is lower than the internal tank box. Why would a very high-rated overflow cause my sump to overflow? Maybe I just don't understand the dynamics between the two.

Can anyone recommend a good overflow box for a 46" head being driven by a Deep Blue Triton 3 850GPH?

Thanks
John

 

[DrAsTiC]

I would give Russ from saltwatercritters.com a message asking him what would be the best configuration. He helped me out BIG time with my set up.

 

[fishman1069]

You can either go with a bigger overflow box or you can put a ball valve inline with the return and choke the pump back

 

[JT101]

Thanks folks. Actually I do have a ball valve in the return line (solid PVC solvent-welded fittings) and I was going to "throttle down" the pump, but I really love the amount of flow coming from this pump. Seems like a waste of good GPH to tone it down...

 

[wayne]

hey i had one of this on my tank and it will do a better job at turning over the water in your tank than what you have now .
http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=79

 

[TheDumbSter]

I have a 46bow and I use glaasholes overflow rated by them at 1500gph and o use a mag 5 as my return pump and I have no issues. Thinking about going up to a mag 7 because I ill be using the same pump for a daul reactor now. Mag pump is a lil loud thou. How much was that pump u purchased?

 

[stage3-S4]

If you are getting around 450-500 gph at the return outlet, A 1inch drain drain would be sufficient. Since this an overflow box, your best bet is to find out what the fluid flow rate is of the overflow box. If its say 300 gph, you can ether use a ball valve to lower the flow on the pump outlet or upgrade your overflow box. I would think that 400-500 gph range is where you would want it for a 46 gallon tank.

 

[JT101]

I have a 46bow and I use glaasholes overflow rated by them at 1500gph and o use a mag 5 as my return pump and I have no issues. Thinking about going up to a mag 7 because I ill be using the same pump for a daul reactor now. Mag pump is a lil loud thou. How much was that pump u purchased?

About $76 including tax.

 

[JT101]

If you are getting around 450-500 gph at the return outlet, A 1inch drain drain would be sufficient. Since this an overflow box, your best bet is to find out what the fluid flow rate is of the overflow box. If its say 300 gph, you can ether use a ball valve to lower the flow on the pump outlet or upgrade your overflow box. I would think that 400-500 gph range is where you would want it for a 46 gallon tank.

My drain is 1-1/4" and the PF-300 is rated for 300GPH.

I think I just woke up :tired: and realized something...

If my overflow wasn't rated high enough, then I think it would, well, "overflow" and the tank-side and rear-side boxes would be full all the time.

In reality, what's happening is the inner box is VERY low. So low that there are bubbles constantly being drawn into the return tube. The outside box is a little low too.

It would be great to know exactly what the "right" flow for any given overflow box really looks like...